Young at Heart breaks ground for senior pets adoption center
Representatives from Young at Heart Pet Rescue, Woodstock and supporters of the project, gathered on Thursday, June 22, to celebrate the official groundbreaking for a new adoption center and sanctuary for senior dogs and cats in unincorporated Woodstock, an innovative facility that will specialize in caring for "senior" pets older than 7 years old.
Board President Joyce Paschall welcomed the crowd, which marked the occasion with applause and cheers.
"We've had many senior pets leave paw prints on our hearts over the years as a foster-based group," she said. "This is an exciting time for Young at Heart, and for all the additional senior pets that we will be able to assist in finding loving homes once we open our doors."
Volunteer and Community Outreach coordinator Sandy Bacino said the organization is excited and looking forward to being a part of the Woodstock community.
"This is a huge accomplishment that we've worked 12 years to achieve" she said. "It's because of our amazing volunteers and supporters that we are able to do this."
Founder and Executive Director Dawn Kemper, thanked the donors of all levels and volunteers for supporting the project. Matt Jans of Matthias Jans Architects was commended for thinking creativity with their small budget and working tirelessly to create the plan for the shelter, which will be the first of its kind in the Chicagoland area.
"This is a dream come true for us," Kemper said.
"We're here today thanks to the hard work and dedication of more people than I could ever name." Kemper continued. "It takes a village, and Young at Heart has the absolute best village. Hundreds of wonderful people donated to help us reach our goal of opening the doors to an adoption center and sanctuary just for senior pets, and I am grateful to each and every one of them."
After the completion of the $1 million capital campaign, Young at Heart's adoption center, named "Smokey's Haven" after the beloved Labrador of John and Rita Canning, is set to open in late 2017 on the organization's eight acres in unincorporated Woodstock, 50 miles northwest of Chicago. It will house approximately 50 senior dogs and cats in a cageless environment, complete with screened-in porches for the cats, large outdoor play yards for the dogs, and heated floors for the animals in a homelike setting. The Foglia Senior Pet Veterinary Center will also be on site to provide veterinary care to the animals being cared for by Young at Heart, as well as a caretaker's apartment so that someone is on site for the animals 24/7.
Donations for the project are still being accepted online or by mail to: Young at Heart, PO Box 1293, Palatine IL 60078. Animal lovers are encouraged to make a donation in honor of their own beloved pets or family. Naming opportunities are available. For information on Young at Heart's capital campaign, visit adoptaseniorpet.com.
About Young at Heart Pet Rescue
Young at Heart pet rescue is a 501c3 not for profit organization that believes that Love Has No Age Limit. Young at Heart is committed to saving the lives of homeless senior pets, especially those at risk of unnecessary euthanasia in area shelters. Based in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, the organization only rescues and adopts out dogs and cats over the age of seven years, placing hundreds of senior pets into loving homes each year since its founding in 2005. In addition to placement through adoption, Young at Heart offers a peaceful sanctuary life for those animals that are less adoptable or that need hospice care. With your support, Young at Heart gives older dogs and cats another chance to enjoy the twilight of their lives through rescue, foster, adoption and sanctuary. Young at Heart is supported solely through contributions, grants, bequests, investments, and adoption fees, and does not receive government funding. For more information or to view current animals available for adoption, visit www.adoptaseniorpet.com.